Book bound by ultrasonic means

ABSTRACT

Plastic studs fit through apertures adjacent the spine margin of sheets and also either into holes in a binding member on at least one end of the book to be formed or into holes in both the binding members. Where the holes are formed in neither or in only one binding member, the studs are preferably integral with the other binding member. The binding members are preferably narrow plastic strips, but may be of metal and may be the covers of the books. The binding members are compressed toward each other, with the sheets therebetween, excess stud lengths are sheared off, and the studs at either or both ends are ultrasonically welded to the binding members.

U 1 ite tees atent I 1191 Ahildgaard et al. 1*Aug. 20, 1974 [54] BOOKBOUND BY ULTRASONIC MEANS 3,452,376 7/1969 lIO 281 21 R 3,560,290 2/l97lS d t l 281/21 R [75] Inventors: w Ablldgaardgms Altos 3,576,690 4/1971Sfzi at s ef all 11 /1 A H1115; Charles Gmswflh, L05 3,596,929 8/1971Abildgaard et al. 281/21 R Altos, both of Calif. FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS [73] Assgnee' VelmBmd Sunnyvale 950,768 2/l964 GreatBritain 402/63 Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequentto Aug. 3, 1988, Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles has been disclaimed.Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Julian Caplan 22 Fl (1: M 7 1973 l 1 e ay 57ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 358033 Plastic studs fit through apertures adjacentthe spine Related Us. Application Data margin of sheets and also eitherinto holes in a binding 0 Division of Ser 141,755, May 10, 971, memberon at least one end of the book to be formed abandoned,continuatiomimpan f Set. or into holes in both the binding members.Where the 799,045, Feb. 13, 1969, Pat. No. 3,596,929. holes are formedin neither or in only one binding member, the studs are preferablyintegral with the [52] U.S. Cl 281/21, 1 III other binding member. Thebinding members are pref- [51] Int. Cl B42d 1/06 erably narrow plasticstrips, but may be of metal andv [58] Field of Search 281/21, 25, 28;11/1; m y be the cov r of the books- The binding members 402/63 arecompressed toward each other, with the sheets therebetween, excess studlengths are sheared off, and [56] References Cited the studs at eitheror both ends are ultrasonically UNI STATES PATENTS welded to the bindingmembers. 3,159,411 12/1964 McKowen 281/25 R 5 Claims, 19 Drawing FiguresPAIfiNlEnmcaomn I saw 1 or a 28 FIGZ 32 CONVERTER FIG. 5

P0 R suP Y I 1 BOOK BOUND BY ULTRASONIC MEANS This application is adivision of Ser. No. 141,755 filed May 10, 1971 and now abandoned, whichis a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 799,045 filed Feb. 13, 1969, nowPat. 3,596,929.

This invention relates to a new and improved method and apparatus forbinding books, wherein plastic studs pass through apertured sheets andare welded or staked to plastic binding strips, or covers, by ultrasonicmeans, and to the book produced thereby.

In a preferred form of the invention, there is provided a machine of asize suitable for use in a business office which binds sheets of paperor books together, using two plastic strips, one having spaced studswhich project through apertures in the sheets and the second formed withholes to receive the ends of the studs. The two strips are pressedtoward each other with the sheets to be bound interposed and with thestuds fitting through the apertures in the sheets and through the holesin the second strip. By the machine hereinafter described, the excesslength of each stud is sheared off by means of a blade or other meansand the ends of the studs are staked or welded to the second strip byultrasonic means.

One of the features of the invention is the fact that the machine andmethod bind a wide variety of types of materials. Thus ordinary paperwhich has been punched or drilled adjacent one margin may be used. It issometimes desirable ro rebind books or to bind as sembled pamphlets,magazines or the like. Further, books similar to conventional books maybe bound. The versatility of the machine is an important feature of theinvention.

Another feature of the invention is the wide range of thickness of pagesaccommodated. The studs of the first strip are of extended lengths so asto fit through a relatively thick book. The machine shears off theexcess lengths of the studs where less than maximum length is required.The effectiveness of the binding is relatively independent of thethickness of the paper.

Another feature of the machine and method is the fact that the sheetsare tightly pressed together and then secured into place in compressedcondition.

Another feature is that the machine is easily operated by relativelyuntrained personnel. Little or no physical effort is required to operatethe machine and the machine is quite rapid in operation, particularly ascompared to conventional bookbinding practices.

In essence, the present invention provides for ultrasonic means forattaching the studs of the one strip to another strip or to attach rodmaterial to two strips, the studs or rods passing through apertures insheets to be bound.

Other objects of the, present invention will become apparent uponreading the following specification and referring to the accompanyingdrawings in which similar characters of reference representcorresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view broken away to conserve spaceshowing two strips used in making the binding and a plurality of punchedsheets to be bound.

FIGS. 2-7 inclusive are schematic views showing successive steps in themethod of binding and showing par tially a section through the marginaledges of sheets to be bound, the binding strips and mechanisms used incarrying out the said steps.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an alternate means forattaching strips at the beginning of the binding.

FIG. 9 is a view showing completion of the binding by the means andmethod of FIG. 8.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views similar to FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively, ofanother alternate means and method.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are views similar to FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively, of afurther alternate means and method.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 8 wherein plastic rod material isabout to be welded to two female strips by ultrasonic welding means.

FIG. 15 is a view showing an intermediate step in the method of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing completion of the stackingprocess initiated in FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 8 wherein the studs are ultrasonicallywelded to the female strip prior to being severed.

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing completion of the weldingstep of FIG. 17 and showing the commencement of severing the excesslength of the welded stud.

FIG. 19 is a schematic sectional view of still another modification.

Strips 26, 29 shown in FIG. 1 are similar to those shown and describedin application Ser. No. 799,045, although they also may be of otherconstructions. In the form shown, pluralities of sheets of paper 21which may be provided with front or back cover sheets are formed with aseries of spaced apertures 22 along one margin thereof, or suchapertures may be formed as notches extending inward from the saidmargin. First plastic strip 26 is preferably of a length approximatelyequal to the length of sheets 21 and is provided with integral studs 27spaced along strip 26 at intervals corresponding to the spaces betweenapertures 22. The studs 27 may be formed with pointed ends 28.Cooperating with first strip 26 is a second strip 29 formed with holes31 spaced apart the same distance as stud 27 and dimensioned to acceptthe same. Preferably, one surface of strip 29 is formed withcounterbores 32. The strips 26 and 29 may be formed with various plasticmaterials, preferably a polyvinyl chloride or other similar materialwhich is capable of being deformed by ultrasonic means. Strip 26 ispreferably rectangular in cross section and measures about one quarterinch wide and one-sixteenth inch thick. The studs 27 are preferablybetween three thirty-seconds and one-eighth inch in diameter and may beof a length up to 3 inches. The second strip 29 is approximatelyone-quarter inch in width and one-sixteenth inch in thickness and theholes 31 are preferably slightly larger in diameter than the studs 27.

The type of material which may be used with the present invention, thedimensions of the sheets 21, and the thickness of the book which is tobe bound are subject to considerable variation. The strips 26 and 29need not be narrow but may, in fact, be front and back coverssubstantially the same size as sheets 21. The term binding member" isused herein to designate the strips or covers or equivalents. Furtherthe studs 27 need not be integral with the binding members and need notnecessarily be of the same material as the binding member.

Directing attention now to FIG. 2, a stationary sup port 36 is providedand is formed with an opening 37 dimensioned to receive the strip 29with the counterbore 32 facing downward. Sheets 21 are placed on thesupport 36 with their apertures 22 aligned with the holes 31 of strip29. Thereupon the strip 26 is applied, the studs 27 being insertedthrough the holes 22 and 31 and projecting below the support 36. Withthe strips and sheets assembled, a pressure foot 38 is brought down toengage the top of strip 26 and to compress strips 26 and 29 toward eachother and likewise compress the sheets 21 'therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 4-, with the pressure foot 38 in down position, theblade 39 is reciprocated parallel to support 36 a short distance belowthe bottom of strip 29, severing the excess lengths of studs 27.

Directing attention now to FIG. 5, commercially available ultrasonicwelding equipment is employed. The details of such equipment form nopart of the present invention. The machine 41 is held in a frame whichmay be moved toward and away from the severed end 51 of stud 27. Suchmachine 41 employs a power supply 46 which converts line current to highfrequency alternating current of about 20,000 Hz. The power is thenconverted by convertor 44 into mechanical energy, likewise preferably ofabout 20,000 HZ. Fixed to the converter 44 is a horn 42 having points 43on its distal end which are used to stake the end 51. Thus, the machine41 is raised (in the schematic sense shown in FIG. until the points 43engage in end 51. The ultrasonic vibrations of horn 42 causes thesevered end 51 to flow and to form the staked end 52 shown in FIG. 6.Thereupon, the pressure foot 38 is withdrawn and the completed book maybe removed from the support 36. The term ultrasonic welding is usedherein to include both staking and welding by means of an ultrasonicallyvibrating horn.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 8, the fe male strip 2% isformed with holes 31a of larger diameter than the studs 27a of strip260. However, an energy directing bead 56 is fabricated on the interiorof hole 31a and is of an internal diameter sufficient to engage stud27a. As shown in FIG. 9, an annular horn 42a is brought into contactwith strip 2% surrounding the hole 31a and this causes formation of aweld 57, which is augmented by the energy director 56.

The horn 42a shown in FIG. 9 has an annular working end which surroundsthe hole 31a and causes vibration of strip 29a which the energy director56 causes to form a circular weld 57.

In FIGS. and 11, the strip 29b is shown formed without any holescorresponding to the holes 31 of strip 29 of FIG. 1 and the studmaterial 27 is welded to the inside surface of strip 2%. It will beunderstood that the same type weld may be formed at both ends of thestud material 27b, or in other words, that the strip 26b is the same asstrip 2% and rods of stud material 2712 are cut to size depending uponthe thickness of the book. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, strip26b is formed with integral studs 27b. The stud material preferably hasan energy directing tip 56b at its end. In forming the weld, the horn42b is brought to bear against the outside of strip 2% and forms a weld57b welding the stub end of stud 27b to the strip 2%.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, hole 310 does not passentirely through the strip 29c but has a bottom 55 in which ispositioned an energy director tip 560. The stud material 27c istruncated and fits within the hole 31c in the assembled position of thebook which is shown in FIG. 12. A welding horn 420 is brought to bearagainst the outside of strip 29c surrounding the projection of the stud27c and the weld 57c which is produced thereby.

Directing attention to the structure of FIGS. 1446, strip 29d may beformed essentially the same as strip 29 of FIG. 1 except that it may, ifdesired, be formed of metal or different material from strip 26d. Thestrip 61 is similar or identical to strip 29d and has a hole 62 and acounterbore 63. Plastic stud material 64 passes through holes 62 thenthrough holes 22d and then through holes 31d of strip 26 of FIG. 1. Anultrasonic welding horn 42d is brought to bear against the end of thestud material 64 forming a stake 52d similar to the stake 52 of themodification of FIG. 6. (FIG. 15) Thereupon, the excess length of thestud 64 projecting to the left of strip 61 is cut off by blade 39d andan ultrasonic welding horn 66 similar in shape to horn 42d is brought tobear from the left to form a second stake 67 similar to stake 52d. (FIG.16) Thus the stud material 64 is staked at both ends rather than at oneend.

The modification of FIGS. 1718 shows that the excess stud material maybe sheared after the weld is formed rather than in sequence shown inFIGS. l-7. Thus strip 2% has an energy director 67e on the inside ofeach hole 31. The stud 27s is forced as far to the right as is requiredfor the pressure desired, and excess stud length extends into the cavityin an annular ultrasonic horn 422. After the weld 572 has been formed, ablade 39: is used to sever the excess length of the stud extendingbeyond the strip 2%.

In the modification of FIG. 19 a multiple welding system is shownadapted from the Sonobond Corp. Octopus system which is claimed to becovered by US. Pat. No. 3,029,766. In this system a plurality of studs27f are staked or welded simultaneously after having been cut to lengthby blades (not shown). A single transducer 44f vibrates a primarycoupler 71 to which is connected ten (e.g.) wave guides 72, each leadingto a horn 42f carrying a tip 43f which is brought against the stud 27f.This modification reduces the time of welding.

The elements of the strip material and equipment of the precedingmodifications is in many respects similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-7 andthe same reference numerals followed by subscripts a, b, c, a, e andf,are used to designate corresponding parts in the modification of FIGS.3-9, FIGS. 1011, FIGS. 12l3, FIGS. 14-16, FIGS. ll7ll8 and FIG.'19respectively.

What is claimed is:

ll. A bound book comprising a plurality of sheets each formed with aplurality of spaced apertures adjacent one margin, and a bindingstructure consisting of two components clamping said sheets together andcharacterized by the absence of a spine connection between the twocomponents around the spine, one said component consisting of a firstthermo-plastic, nonresilient, self-supporting strip underlying onemargin on one side of said book and covering said apertures andextending substantially the entire length of said book, the other saidcomponent consisting of a second thermo-plastic, non-resilient,self-supporting strip overlying one margin of the side of said bookopposite said first strip and of a length substantially equal to saidfirst strip and having stud receiving apertures therein formed withenlargements of said apertures on the outside surface of said secondstrip; said strips initially being freely moveable toward and away fromeach other in infinitely small dimensions to accommodate a wide andcontinuous range of thicknesses of books, said first component furthercomprising at least three studs integrally molded with said first stripand projecting from one surface thereof, the opposite surface beingimperforate, said studs being smooth and being of uniform cross-sectionbetween said strips and initially of a length greater than the greatestthickness of said range of thicknesses of books, said studs extendingthrough the apertures in said sheets and the apertures in said secondstrip, said studs sheared close to the surface of said second stripopposite from said sheets and formed with heads larger than saidapertures permanently secured to said second strip directly inengagement with the side of said second strip opposite said sheets, saidstrips at the completion of making said book being the same distanceapart as the thickness of said sheets bound between said strips, saidstrips being totally disconnected from each other except by said studs,and each said strip being of substantially uniform crosssection and ofsubstantially uniform thickness throughout from end to end, said studsbeing staked to said second strip by ultrasonic deformation of saidstuds to substantially fill said enlargements.

2. A bound book comprising a plurality of sheets each formed with aplurality of spaced apertures adjacent one margin, and a bindingstructure consisting of two components clamping said sheets together andcharacterized by the absence of a spine connection between the twocomponents around the spine, one said component consisting of a firstthermo-plastic, nonresilient, self-supporting strip underlying onemargin on one side of said book and covering said apertures andextending substantially the entire length of said book, the other saidcomponent consisting of a second thermoplastic, non-resilient,selfsupporting strip overlying one margin of the side of said bookopposite said first strip and of a length substantially equal to saidfirst strip and having stud receiving apertures therein; said stripsinitially being freely moveable toward and away from each other ininfinitely small dimensions to accommodate a wide and continuous rangeof thicknesses of books, said first component further comprising atleast three studs integrally molded with said first strip and projectingfrom one surface thereof, the opposite surface being imperforate, saidstuds being smooth and being of uniform cross-section between saidstrips and initially of a length greater than the greatest thickness ofsaid range of thicknesses of books, said studs extending through theapertures in said sheets and the apertures in said second strip, saidstuds sheared close to the surface of said second strip opposite fromsaid sheets and permanently secured to said second strip directly inengagement with the side of said second strip opposite said sheets, saidstrips at the completion of making said book being the same distanceapart as the thickness of said sheets bound between said strips, saidstrips being totally disconnected from each other except by said studs,and each said strip being of substantially uniform cross-section and ofsubstantially uniform thickness throughout from end to end, said studsbeing welded by ultrasonic means to the walls of said apertures in saidsecond strips.

3. A bound book comprising a plurality of sheets each formed with aplurality of spaced first apertures adjacent one margin, and a bindingstructure characterized by the absence of a spine connection around thespine, said binding structure consisting of a first thermo-plastic,non-resilient, self-supporting strip underlying one margin on one sideof said book and extending substantially the entire length of said book,a second thermo-plastic, non-resilient, self-supporting strip overlyingone margin of the side of said book opposite said first and of a lengthsubstantially equal to said first strip, each said strip formed withstud receiving second apertures therein formed with enlargements of saidapertures on the outside surfaces of said trips; said strips initiallybeing frelly moveable toward and away from each other in infinitelysmall dimensions to accommodate a wide and continuous range ofthicknesses of books, and a plurality of at least three studs initiallyof a length greater than the greatest thickness of said range ofthicknesses of books, said studs extending through said first aperturesin said sheets and the second apertures in both said strips, said studssheared close to the outside surfaces of said strips opposite from saidsheets and formed with heads larger than said second apertures andsubstantially filling said enlargements and permanently secured to saidstrips directly in engagement with the sides of said strip opposite saidsheets, said strips at the completion of making said book being the samedistance apart as the thickness of said sheets bound between saidstrips, said strips being totally disconnected from each other except bysaid studs, and each said strip being of substantially uniformcross-section and of substantially uniform thickness throughout from endto end, said studs being welded by ultrasonic means to the walls of saidsecond apertures.

4 A bound book comprising a plurality of sheets each formed with aplurality of spaced apertures adjacent one margin, and a bindingstructure consisting of two components clamping said sheets together andcharacterized by the absence of a spine connection between the twocomponents around the spine, one said component consisting of a firstthermo-plastic, nonresilient, self-supporting strip underlying onemargin on one side of said book and covering said apertures andextending substantially the entire length of said book, the other saidcomponent consisting of a second thermo-plastic, non-resilient,self-supporting strip overlying one margin of the side of said bookopposite said first strip and of a length substantially equal to saidfirst strip; said strips initially being freely moveable toward and awayfrom each other in infinitely small dimensions to accommodate a wide andcontinuous range of thicknesses of books, said first component furthercomprising at least three studs integrally molded with said first stripand projecting from one surface thereof, the opposite surface beingimperforate, said studs being smooth and being of uniform cross-sectionbetween said strips and initially of a length greater than the greatestthickness of said range of thicknesses of books, said studs extendingthrough the apertures in said sheets and the apertures in said secondstrip, said studs sheared close to the surface of said second stripnearest said sheets and permanently secured to said second strip, saidstrips at the completion of making said book being the same distanceapart as the thickness of said sheets bound between said strips, saidstrips being totally disconnected from each other except by said studs,and each said strip being of substantially uniform cross-section and ofsubstantially uniform thickness throughout from end to end, the shearedends of said studs being ultrasonically welded to the inside surface ofsaid second strip.

5. A bound book comprising a plurality of sheets each formed with aplurality of spaced apertures adjacent one margin, and a bindingstructure consisting of two components clamping said sheets together andcharacterized by the absence of a spine connection between the twocomponents around the spine, one said component consisting of a firstthermoplastic, nonresilient, self-supporting strip underlying one marginon one side of said book and covering said apertures and extendingsubstantially the entire length of said book, the other said componentconsisting of a second thermo-plastic, non-resilient, self-supportingstrip overlying one margin of the side of said book opposite said firststrip and of a length substantially equal to said first strip and havingstud receiving blind apertures therein extending inward from the insidesurface of said second strip but only part way through said secondstrip, said strips initially being freely moveable toward and away fromeach other in infinitely small dimensions to accommodate a wide andcontinuous range of thickness of books, said first component furthercomprising at least three studs integrally molded with said first stripand projecting from one surface thereof, the opposite surface beingimperforate, said studs being smooth and being of uniform cross-sectionbetween said strips and initially of a length greater than the greatestthickness of said range of thicknesses of books, said studs extendingthrough the apertures in said sheets and into the blind apertures insaid second strip, said studs sheared to length to fit into said blindapertures and permanently secured to said second strip, said strips atthe completion of making said book being the same distance apart as thethickness of said sheets bound between said strips, said strips beingtotally disconnected from each other except by said studs, and each saidstrip being of substantially uniform cross-section and of substantiallyuniform thickness throughout from end to end, said studs beingultrasonically welded to said second strip in the areas of the walls ofsaid blind aper-

1. A bound book comprising a plurality of sheets each formed with aplurality of spaced apertures adjacent one margin, and a bindingstructure consisting of two components clamping said sheets together andcharacterized by the absence of a spine connection between the twocomponents around the spine, one said component consisting of a firstthermo-plastic, non-resilient, self-supporting strip underlying onemargin on one side of said book and covering said apertures andextending substantially the entire length of said book, the other saidcomponent consisting of a second thermo-plastic, non-resilient,self-supporting strip overlying one margin of the side of said bookopposite said first strip and of a length substantially equal to saidfirst strip and having stud receiving apertures therein formed withenlargements of said apertures on the outside surface of said secondstrip; said strips initially being freely moveable toward and away fromeach other in infinitely small dimensions to accommodate a wide andcontinuous range of thicknesses of books, said first component furthercomprising at least three studs integrally molded with said first stripand projecting from one surface thereof, the opposite surface beingimperforate, said studs being smooth and being of uniform cross-sectionbetween said strips and initially of a length greater than the greatestthiCkness of said range of thicknesses of books, said studs extendingthrough the apertures in said sheets and the apertures in said secondstrip, said studs sheared close to the surface of said second stripopposite from said sheets and formed with heads larger than saidapertures permanently secured to said second strip directly inengagement with the side of said second strip opposite said sheets, saidstrips at the completion of making said book being the same distanceapart as the thickness of said sheets bound between said strips, saidstrips being totally disconnected from each other except by said studs,and each said strip being of substantially uniform cross-section and ofsubstantially uniform thickness throughout from end to end, said studsbeing staked to said second strip by ultrasonic deformation of saidstuds to substantially fill said enlargements.
 2. A bound bookcomprising a plurality of sheets each formed with a plurality of spacedapertures adjacent one margin, and a binding structure consisting of twocomponents clamping said sheets together and characterized by theabsence of a spine connection between the two components around thespine, one said component consisting of a first thermo-plastic,non-resilient, self-supporting strip underlying one margin on one sideof said book and covering said apertures and extending substantially theentire length of said book, the other said component consisting of asecond thermoplastic, non-resilient, self-supporting strip overlying onemargin of the side of said book opposite said first strip and of alength substantially equal to said first strip and having stud receivingapertures therein; said strips initially being freely moveable towardand away from each other in infinitely small dimensions to accommodate awide and continuous range of thicknesses of books, said first componentfurther comprising at least three studs integrally molded with saidfirst strip and projecting from one surface thereof, the oppositesurface being imperforate, said studs being smooth and being of uniformcross-section between said strips and initially of a length greater thanthe greatest thickness of said range of thicknesses of books, said studsextending through the apertures in said sheets and the apertures in saidsecond strip, said studs sheared close to the surface of said secondstrip opposite from said sheets and permanently secured to said secondstrip directly in engagement with the side of said second strip oppositesaid sheets, said strips at the completion of making said book being thesame distance apart as the thickness of said sheets bound between saidstrips, said strips being totally disconnected from each other except bysaid studs, and each said strip being of substantially uniformcross-section and of substantially uniform thickness throughout from endto end, said studs being welded by ultrasonic means to the walls of saidapertures in said second strips.
 3. A bound book comprising a pluralityof sheets each formed with a plurality of spaced first aperturesadjacent one margin, and a binding structure characterized by theabsence of a spine connection around the spine, said binding structureconsisting of a first thermo-plastic, non-resilient, self-supportingstrip underlying one margin on one side of said book and extendingsubstantially the entire length of said book, a second thermo-plastic,non-resilient, self-supporting strip overlying one margin of the side ofsaid book opposite said first and of a length substantially equal tosaid first strip, each said strip formed with stud receiving secondapertures therein formed with enlargements of said apertures on theoutside surfaces of said trips; said strips initially being frellymoveable toward and away from each other in infinitely small dimensionsto accommodate a wide and continuous range of thicknesses of books, anda plurality of at least three studs initially of a length greater thanthe greatest thickness of said range of thicknesses of books, said stuDsextending through said first apertures in said sheets and the secondapertures in both said strips, said studs sheared close to the outsidesurfaces of said strips opposite from said sheets and formed with headslarger than said second apertures and substantially filling saidenlargements and permanently secured to said strips directly inengagement with the sides of said strip opposite said sheets, saidstrips at the completion of making said book being the same distanceapart as the thickness of said sheets bound between said strips, saidstrips being totally disconnected from each other except by said studs,and each said strip being of substantially uniform cross-section and ofsubstantially uniform thickness throughout from end to end, said studsbeing welded by ultrasonic means to the walls of said second apertures.4. A bound book comprising a plurality of sheets each formed with aplurality of spaced apertures adjacent one margin, and a bindingstructure consisting of two components clamping said sheets together andcharacterized by the absence of a spine connection between the twocomponents around the spine, one said component consisting of a firstthermo-plastic, non-resilient, self-supporting strip underlying onemargin on one side of said book and covering said apertures andextending substantially the entire length of said book, the other saidcomponent consisting of a second thermo-plastic, non-resilient,self-supporting strip overlying one margin of the side of said bookopposite said first strip and of a length substantially equal to saidfirst strip; said strips initially being freely moveable toward and awayfrom each other in infinitely small dimensions to accommodate a wide andcontinuous range of thicknesses of books, said first component furthercomprising at least three studs integrally molded with said first stripand projecting from one surface thereof, the opposite surface beingimperforate, said studs being smooth and being of uniform cross-sectionbetween said strips and initially of a length greater than the greatestthickness of said range of thicknesses of books, said studs extendingthrough the apertures in said sheets and the apertures in said secondstrip, said studs sheared close to the surface of said second stripnearest said sheets and permanently secured to said second strip, saidstrips at the completion of making said book being the same distanceapart as the thickness of said sheets bound between said strips, saidstrips being totally disconnected from each other except by said studs,and each said strip being of substantially uniform cross-section and ofsubstantially uniform thickness throughout from end to end, the shearedends of said studs being ultrasonically welded to the inside surface ofsaid second strip.
 5. A bound book comprising a plurality of sheets eachformed with a plurality of spaced apertures adjacent one margin, and abinding structure consisting of two components clamping said sheetstogether and characterized by the absence of a spine connection betweenthe two components around the spine, one said component consisting of afirst thermo-plastic, non-resilient, self-supporting strip underlyingone margin on one side of said book and covering said apertures andextending substantially the entire length of said book, the other saidcomponent consisting of a second thermo-plastic, non-resilient,self-supporting strip overlying one margin of the side of said bookopposite said first strip and of a length substantially equal to saidfirst strip and having stud receiving blind apertures therein extendinginward from the inside surface of said second strip but only part waythrough said second strip, said strips initially being freely moveabletoward and away from each other in infinitely small dimensions toaccommodate a wide and continuous range of thickness of books, saidfirst component further comprising at least three studs integrallymolded with said first strip and projecting from one surface thereof,the oppOsite surface being imperforate, said studs being smooth andbeing of uniform cross-section between said strips and initially of alength greater than the greatest thickness of said range of thicknessesof books, said studs extending through the apertures in said sheets andinto the blind apertures in said second strip, said studs sheared tolength to fit into said blind apertures and permanently secured to saidsecond strip, said strips at the completion of making said book beingthe same distance apart as the thickness of said sheets bound betweensaid strips, said strips being totally disconnected from each otherexcept by said studs, and each said strip being of substantially uniformcross-section and of substantially uniform thickness throughout from endto end, said studs being ultrasonically welded to said second strip inthe areas of the walls of said blind apertures.